Aeroplane



Jan. 17, 1933.

D. A. LUCCHESE 1,394,513

AEROPLANE Filed May 12, 1.932

I/VVIE'NTOR ATTO R/VE') Patented Jan. 17, 1933 PATENT OFFICE DOMINIGK A. LUCCHESE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA AEROPLANE Application filed May 12, 1932. .Serial No. 610,862.

The present invention relates particularly to means for carrying and discharging packages from an aeroplane while in the air, and means for permitting the quick and easy exit of the pilot if he finds it necessary to abandon the plane while in the air.

It is one object of the invention to provide means for carrying mail or other matter in an aeroplane, and means under the direct control of the pilot whereby the same may be quickly and positively discharged from the aeroplane while in the air.

It is another object of the invention to provide means under the perfect control of the pilot whereby he may be quickly and positively ejected from the aeroplane subsequently to the emptying of the carrier.

It is also an object to provide means of the character indicated whereby the pilot may release his cargo and abandon the plane in the air without danger of becoming entangled therewith, and to provide means of the character indicated that will be economical to build and install, positive in operation, simple in form and construction, and highly eflicient in its practical application.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of an aeroplane embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective illustration of the trap-door releasing means.

In the embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, I show at 1 the fuselage of an aeroplane, with the cock-pit at 2.

Built in the body of the fuselage and just back of the cock-pit is a compartment 3, this compartment extending from top to bottom through the fuselage and at an upwardly and rearwardly inclined angle as shown. The top of the compartment is closed by means of a cover 4 hinged thereto at 5 and fastened when closed in any suitable manner as indicated at 6. The bottom of the compartment is closed by a trap-door 7 hinged to its rear lower edge as at 8, the forward edge of the door voverlapping the bottom of the fuselage as at 9.

and releasably engaged by a bell-crank 10. The bell-crank is pivotally mounted at 11 and has one arm extending through an opening 12 and provided with a finger 13 to engage the door 7 as described, its other arm extending rearwardly as at 14 within the cock-pit. Arm 14 is supported by a spring 15 and a cam 16, cam 16 being operated by a shaft 17 and lever 18 which is normally held in a fixed position by locking means 19.

The bottom opening of the compartment 3 extends forwardly a distance as at 20 equal to the depth of the seat 21, and the seat 21 has the lower edge of the front vertical portion 22 pivotally mounted on the fuselage in the forward edge of said opening as at 23, the back 24 of the seat filling in an opening 25 formed in the forward wall of the said compartment 3. The seat is releasably held in position in any suitable manner as by means of a bolt 26 engaging a keeper 27 under the urge of a spring 28, a cable 29 being connected to the bolt and passing over pulleys 30 and thence up through the seat and terminating in a ring 31. The seat is provided With curved side bars 32.

If circumstances compel the pilot to abandon the plane he first grasps lever 18 and unlocks the same and pulls it back a distance, thereby turning shaft 17 in the direction indicated by the arrow and removing the cam 16 from under the bell-crank arm 14. This operation unlocks the bell-crank sothat a kick with the foot will operate the bell-crank to release trap-door 7 permitting the same to swing open as indicated in dotted lines at 33 and allowing the contents of the compartment 3 to drop freely away from the machine.

The pilot may now jerk open the bolt 26 thereby permitting the seat structure 21, 22 24 to swing backwardly and downwardly as indicated by dotted line 34, the pilot holding on to bars 32, turning a complete somersault, and throwing himself clear of the plane before pulling the rip-cord of his parachute.

It is immaterial just what forms of fastening devices are used if they are of such a nature that they cannot he accidentally released.

Itis to be noted that there is a somewhat definite relationshi between the horizontal cross-sectional con guration of the compartment at its lower end and the dimensions and the pivotal point of the seat structure. These parts must be so proportioned and arranged that when the trap-door is released it will swing open to such an extent that the seat structure may swing freely through the compartment and out through the open bottom. It is to be understood, of course, that while I have herein shown and described but one specific embodiment of the invention, changes in form, construction, and method of arrangement and operation may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I clalmz 1. In combination, an aeroplane fuselage havin a compartment formed therein and provi ed with a discharge opening in the bottom of the fuselage, a closure for the opening, a seat structure pivotally mounted at one edge of said opening and releasable means for securing the same in position, the seat structure being disposed to swing backwardly and downwardly through said compartment opening when released.

2. In combination, an aeroplane fuselage having a compartment formed therein and provided with an opening discharging through the bottom of the said fuselage, a trap-door releasably closing said opening, a seat structure pivotally mounted at one edge of the opening and forming a portion of the wall of the said compartment, and releasable means for normally holding the seat structure in position as a portion of the wall.

3. The combination of an aeroplane fuselage having a compartment formed therein with a discharge opening in its bottom, a 010- sure pivotally mounted on one edge of the opening and releasable means for normally holding the closure in closed position, a seat structure pivotally mounted on the opposite edge of the opening and normally forming a portion of the compartment wall, and releasable means for normally supporting the seat structure as a portion of the compartment wall, the closure over-lapping the seat structure mounting whereby the said closure must be released and opened before the seat structure can swing through the opening.

DOMINICK A. LUCCHESE. 

